Category: Event Videos

On the 30th of October Matttech Modular held an event at MadLab in Manchester to present and demo ‘Flexible Portable Eurorack Systems’. DivKid presented a drum and percussion based system, Matttech then demonstrated a more standard synth voice, and Matthew Shaw followed up by tackling a more experimental “west coast” set up.

The event was very informal – with lots of chat, questions and experimentation throughout the evening.

This video contains excepts of an improvised experimental jam we had at the end of the night. Completely unplanned and unrehearsed, it actually turned out better than expected!

Everything was caught on a single camcorder up above each case. We chose not to set up a second camera pointing at the people presenting as we wanted to create a casual vibe, where people could play around and touch things (and not potentially feel awkward with a camera right in their face!). Audio was captured on a Zoom H4n.

Here’s the Sonicstate feature on the workshop, with further details on the systems used:

On the 30th of October Matttech Modular held an event at MadLab in Manchester to present and demo ‘Flexible Portable Eurorack Systems’. DivKid presented a drum and percussion based system, Matttech then demonstrated a more standard synth voice, and Matthew Shaw followed up by tackling a more experimental “west coast” set up.

The event was very informal – with lots of chat, questions and experimentation throughout the evening.

This video features Matt Shaw, weaving some experimental West Coast magic!

Everything was caught on a single camcorder up above each case. We chose not to set up a second camera pointing at the people presenting as we wanted to create a casual vibe, where people could play around and touch things (and not potentially feel awkward with a camera right in their face!). Audio was captured on a Zoom H4n.

Here’s the Sonicstate feature on the workshop, with further details on the systems used:

On the 30th of October Matttech Modular held an event at MadLab in Manchester to present and demo ‘Flexible Portable Eurorack Systems’. DivKid presented a drum and percussion based system, Matttech then demonstrated a more standard synth voice, and Matthew Shaw followed up by tackling a more experimental “west coast” set up.

The event was very informal – with lots of chat, questions and experimentation throughout the evening.

This video features Matttech, demonstrating how to put together a synth voice with some tidy twists.

Everything was caught on a single camcorder up above each case. We chose not to set up a second camera pointing at the people presenting as we wanted to create a casual vibe, where people could play around and touch things (and not potentially feel awkward with a camera right in their face!). Audio was captured on a Zoom H4n.

Here’s the Sonicstate feature on the workshop, with further details on the systems used:

On the 30th of October Matttech Modular held an event at MadLab in Manchester to present and demo ‘Flexible Portable Eurorack Systems’. DivKid presented a drum and percussion based system, Matttech then demonstrated a more standard synth voice, and Matthew Shaw followed up by tackling a more experimental “west coast” set up.

The event was very informal – with lots of chat, questions and experimentation throughout the evening.

Opening the event was DivKid and the drum system ….so here it is.

Everything was caught on a single camcorder up above each case. We chose not to set up a second camera pointing at the people presenting as we wanted to create a casual vibe, where people could play around and touch things (and not potentially feel awkward with a camera right in their face!). Audio was captured on a Zoom H4n.

Here’s the Sonicstate feature on the workshop, with further details on the systems used:

On April 22nd 2015 Matttech Modular put on a workshop at Madlab in Manchester, UK, featuring William Mathewson from WMDevices, where he kindly demonstrated his new range of modules. These were designed in collaboration with Steady State Fate’s Andrew Morelli and we got to see the much-anticipated Monolith keyboard in all its glory. William also ran through some of WMDevices’ classic designs – such as the Geiger Counter, Synchrodyne and PDO mk.2.

I thought that the last chapter – dealing with the Synchrodyne – was focused on the most unruly beast in the WMD stable…but I forgot about the Geiger Counter! In this quick run-through William looks at its main features and applications.

Keep an eye out for more events from Matttech Modular. Many thanks to Ben “DivKid” Wilson for recording and editing this series of videos.

Well, well…many thanks to Sonic State – and specifically Edd Butterworth – for uploading this interview with me from the “Modular Meets the Elektrons” synth meet back in August.

Please bear in mind I had been talking / shouting for over 6 hours solid prior to this recording taking place, so I come across as a deranged hybrid of a baby bird and some kind of band-pass-filtered cockney idiot (which I suppose I am, in many ways…)

Fresh from the recent “Modular Meets the Elektrons” synth meet in Leeds this summer, here’s Radek Rudnicki’s live performance, which actually caused half of my pop-up-shop to start falling off the stage, so intense was the bass! Enjoy…

On April 22nd 2015 Matttech Modular put on a workshop at Madlab in Manchester, UK, featuring William Mathewson from WMDevices, where he kindly demonstrated his new range of modules. These were designed in collaboration with Steady State Fate’s Andrew Morelli and we got to see the much-anticipated Monolith keyboard in all its glory. William also ran through some of WMDevices’ classic designs – such as the Geiger Counter, Synchrodyne and PDO mk.2.

In part 8 William addresses the most unruly beast in the WMD stable – the Synchrodyne! This is one of the most fully-featured modules on the market, and can produce some unearthly tones when prodded in the right direction. The additional expander is probably the biggest expander I’ve ever seen, on anything.

Keep an eye out for more events from Matttech Modular. Many thanks to Ben “DivKid” Wilson for recording and editing this series of videos.

On April 22nd 2015 Matttech Modular put on a workshop at Madlab in Manchester, UK, featuring William Mathewson from WMDevices, where he kindly demonstrated his new range of modules. These were designed in collaboration with Steady State Fate’s Andrew Morelli and we got to see the much-anticipated Monolith keyboard in all its glory. William also ran through some of WMDevices’ classic designs – such as the Geiger Counter, Synchrodyne and PDO mk.2.

In part 7 William goes head-on with the wonderful PDO mk.2 (Phase Displacement Oscillator). This uses Phase Modulation to create sounds similar to the Casio CZ series of synths – reminiscent of FM but without the pitch artefacts. This being WMD however, there are myriads of additional patching and modulation options which can bend things into unruly shapes pretty quickly!

Keep an eye out for more events from Matttech Modular. Many thanks to Ben “DivKid” Wilson for recording and editing this series of videos.

On April 22nd 2015 Matttech Modular put on a workshop at Madlab in Manchester, UK, featuring William Mathewson from WMDevices, where he kindly demonstrated his new range of modules. These were designed in collaboration with Steady State Fate’s Andrew Morelli and we got to see the much-anticipated Monolith keyboard in all its glory. William also ran through some of WMDevices’ classic designs – such as the Geiger Counter, Synchrodyne and PDO mk.2.

In part 6 William explains the Amplitude VCA and rounds up the Monolith System as a whole.

Keep an eye out for more events from Matttech Modular. Many thanks to Ben “DivKid” Wilson for recording and editing this series of videos.

On April 22nd 2015 Matttech Modular put on a workshop at Madlab in Manchester, UK, featuring William Mathewson from WMDevices, where he kindly demonstrated his new range of modules. These were designed in collaboration with Steady State Fate’s Andrew Morelli and we got to see the much-anticipated Monolith keyboard in all its glory. William also ran through some of WMDevices’ classic designs – such as the Geiger Counter, Synchrodyne and PDO mk.2.

In part 5 William gets stuck into the VC Mini-Slew – a multi-purpose module which can function as a Slew, Envelope, LFO, VCO, Trigger Generator, and many more things besides…

Keep an eye out for more events from Matttech Modular. Many thanks to Ben “DivKid” Wilson for recording and editing this series of videos.

On April 22nd 2015 Matttech Modular put on a workshop at Madlab in Manchester, UK, featuring William Mathewson from WMDevices, where he kindly demonstrated his new range of modules. These were designed in collaboration with Steady State Fate’s Andrew Morelli and we got to see the much-anticipated Monolith keyboard in all its glory. William also ran through some of WMDevices’ classic designs – such as the Geiger Counter, Synchrodyne and PDO mk.2.

In part 4 William runs us through the tidy WMD & SSF ADSRVCA module – a combined ADSR and VCA (as you needed that explaining!)

Keep an eye out for more events from Matttech Modular. Many thanks to Ben “DivKid” Wilson for recording and editing this series of videos.

On April 22nd 2015 Matttech Modular put on a workshop at Madlab in Manchester, UK, featuring William Mathewson from WMDevices, where he kindly demonstrated his new range of modules. These were designed in collaboration with Steady State Fate’s Andrew Morelli and we got to see the much-anticipated Monolith keyboard in all its glory. William also ran through some of WMDevices’ classic designs – such as the Geiger Counter, Synchrodyne and PDO mk.2.

In part 3 William grapples with the wonderful WMD & SSF Ultrafold wavefolder.

Keep an eye out for more events from Matttech Modular. Many thanks to Ben “DivKid” Wilson for recording and editing this series of videos.

On April 22nd 2015 Matttech Modular put on a workshop at Madlab in Manchester, UK, featuring William Mathewson from WMDevices, where he kindly demonstrated his new range of modules. These were designed in collaboration with Steady State Fate’s Andrew Morelli and we got to see the much-anticipated Monolith keyboard in all its glory. William also ran through some of WMDevices’ classic designs – such as the Geiger Counter, Synchrodyne and PDO mk.2.

In part 2 William tackles the WMD & SSF Spectrum oscillator.

Keep an eye out for more events from Matttech Modular. Many thanks to Ben “DivKid” Wilson for recording and editing this series of videos.

On April 22nd 2015 Matttech Modular put on a workshop at Madlab in Manchester, UK, featuring William Mathewson from WMDevices, where he kindly demonstrated his new range of modules. These were designed in collaboration with Steady State Fate’s Andrew Morelli and we got to see the much-anticipated Monolith keyboard in all its glory. William also ran through some of WMDevices’ classic designs – such as the Geiger Counter, Synchrodyne and PDO mk.2.

In part 1 William goes through an introduction to what modular synthesis is with the WMD & SSF Monolith system.

Keep an eye out for more events from Matttech Modular. Many thanks to Ben “DivKid” Wilson for recording and editing this series of videos.

On February 22nd, 2015 a disparate group of individuals descended on Huddersfield University with one shared purpose – to bring the murky world of modular synths out from the shadows.

The facilities laid on for us were amazing, with each table having its own set of powered Genelec studio monitors – all within a light and airy atrium space. Cue the arrival of tens-of-thousands of pounds worth of electronics, from Eurorack to 5u, in addition to the University’s own vintage synth collection (EMS Synthi, Roland System 100m..)

I had this event in mind when setting the timescale for launching Matttech Modular, and was determined that I would be in attendance, along with something really special to intrigue the assembled parties. I decided that a full AJH Synth Minimod system – their patchable Eurorack Minimoog Model D clone – would be just the ticket, and it certainly provoked a lot of interest.

Those in attendance included: Zoe and Nina from Transistor Sounds Labs, showing off their new Stepper Acid sequencer; Steve from Thonk Synth DIY, manning a pop-up shop; Ross Lamond of Lamond Design, tempting folk with sexy wooden modular cases; and Paul Darlow from Krisp1 – builder of the beautiful Oakley 5u modules – dwarfed by a large white Digisound system.

A massive shout out to Ben “DivKid” Wilson, who organised the whole affair, and to Huddersfield University for providing such outstanding support.

Ben put together a short video of the event, using photos and footage from the day. Keep an eye out for further similar events in the future, which will be highlighted in the Matttech Modular NEWS & EVENTS section.